See more of
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Publishers
Weekly
Bestseller

HOLIDAY
GRIND

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“Fun and gripping…”~ Huffington Post

"Some of the most
vibrant characters
I've ever read."
~ Mystery Scene

"This one will keep
your cup
piping hot."
~ Kirkus

vif

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Clare Cosi is the sleuth in Cleo Coyle's bestselling series of culinary mysteries. A single mom in her forties, she manages the Village Blend, a landmark coffeehouse in Greenwich Village, where she often finds herself mixed up in murder...

Hi there. Cleo here. Are you ready to meet some of the best "street chefs" of New York City? Come with me on my trip to the annual Vendy Awards. I went as part of my research for my latest bestselling hardcover Coffeehouse Mystery A Brew to a Kill.

You will (virtually) try some amazing desserts, unique dishes, and meet this year's winners. I'll even take you on a video ferry ride up the East River. Just jump to my blog post by...

About Me: When I’m not making espresssos or supervising our barista staff, I’m creating and roasting new blends from the beans brought in by our coffee buyer. I’m divorced with one grown daughter (Joy), who is now in culinary school. Oh, and that coffee buyer I mentioned? He also happens to be Matteo Allegro, my ex-husband. So far, Matt and I are working together without too much drama, but all the issues that originally broke us up do occasionally rear their ugly, hydra-like heads. And then there’s my little habit of getting mixed up in murder. Don’t ask. It would take too long to explain, and Matt thinks I’m just seeking the thrills I missed while he was off cliff-diving in Hawaii, and I was home alone, raising our daughter. Anyway, bottom line: love me, love the bean. Decaf drinkers, move along. These aren't the droids you're looking for. Mm'kay?

What My Avatar Says About Me: Coffee is love. There's not much a good cuppa Joe can't make a little bit better.

Meet Matt Allegro...

Name: Matteo “Matt” Allegro

Job: Village Blend Coffee Buyer, International Coffee Broker

Internet handle: "Coffee Hunter"

Gender: Male

Age: 42

Residence: Changes weekly

Originally from: Greenwich Village, NYC

About Me: Okay, I admit it. I’m an adventure junkie. When I was younger, my addictive personality was channeled into extreme sports. Now I travel the world in search of the best beans on the planet. There’s nowhere I won’t go--from the Costa Rican mountains to the Brazilian rainforests; from the islands of Indonesia to the muddy tracks of Uganda’s Mount Elgon (used by the Bagisu tribesman who’ve become experts at coffee farming). I’ve seen it and done it all; and although my ex-wife Clare believes I’ve also “done” every woman in every country I’ve visited, my extra-curricular activities have been nowhere near that egregious. Actually, despite my straying during our ten year marriage, she and I have managed to remain on pretty good terms. My elderly mother owns the Village Blend Coffeehouse, but she’s turned its operation over to me and Clare. I think we still make a good team, even if it’s no longer as man and wife. Bottom line: I’ve always been a thrill seeker, but at this age, I’m beginning to consider limiting my extreme sports to the bedroom.

What my Avatar says about me: Happiness is...trekking the globe, hunting for the world’s choicest cherries (coffee cherries, I mean).

About Me: Hello! My granddaughter, Joy, claims this virtual world is the way of the future, so she's typing this up for me. Well, what can I tell you about myself? I've been through so much in this long life. I was born in Paris, and came to New York during World War II. At eighteen, I met my first husband, Antonio Allegro, and fell madly in love. He was so virile, so handsome, so passionate; and after he inherited the Village Blend from his father, he and I ran it together for years. We also traveled the world and had wonderful adventures!

From a very young age, our son Matt was steeped in coffee; and after Antonio passed, Matt took over purchasing coffee for the Blend and began brokering coffee for international clients. The Village Blend has always been a family business—and I'm determined to keep it that way. That's why it broke my heart when Matt and his adorable wife, Clare, divorced.

Clare is the best barista I've ever met, and I've always considered her the daughter I never had—the divorce didn't change that. (What's a silly piece of legal paper against a lifetime of caring?) That's why I was thrilled when she finally agreed to come back to my Blend and run it for me. It will be half hers one day, too. My will makes it official. And now I know that when I die, my beloved Blend will be in the very best hands.

As for me, I've got a lot of life yet to live, and I'm always up for adventure—just ask Clare! New York is quite a bubbling cauldron. Passions run high in my city and every so often, it seems my former daughter-in-law finds herself embroiled in the most interesting cases of murder. That's when I offer my services. While I may no longer be a spring guinea hen, I'm nobody's fool. And Clares knows better than to turn down the wisdom of a woman who's been around more than a few blocks!

What My Avatar Says About Me: Welcome to my coffeehouse! It is my hope you'll think of it as a second living room—where (of course) freshly roasted coffee is always brewing!

About Me: I'm currently studying to become a professional chef. My goal (eventually) is to have my own restaurant, but until then I'm totally determined to apprentice under a top chef. I love cooking food, hanging with my friends, and my family. My grandmother is the coolest, and even though my parents are divorced, they're working pretty well together. Mom and Dad have been big boosters for me, and I seriously appreciate that--even though Mom's way too snoopy. I don't mean she asks too many questions. I'm talking Defcon 1 Snoop Level here. It's a real pain. A girl needs her privacy, you know? So, okay, I have this thing for older men that freaks Mom out a little. But I can’t help it if guys keep hitting on me. And the drug thing was no biggee. My partying is totally under control--the coke was just recreational! Anyway, I'm really a nice girl who works hard and is totally mature enough to run her own life. Totally.

What My Avatar Says About Me:Cooking Like Crazy rules! And so does The Frying Pan, which seriously beats falling into the fire!

About Me: A good day for me is when I take someone bad off the street. I’m a real New Yorker. Born and raised in Brooklyn. Mom taught school. Dad was a fire chief. The FDNY was supposed to be my future, too, until an incident in high school turned the wheel, steered me to The Job. I like being a cop and lucky for me, I’m good at it. My task force is based at the Sixth, so I take downtime at the Village Blend. If you need more, leave a message on my cell to schedule a face-to-face there. I don’t blog. I don't tweet. I don't google, facebook, or do anything personal in public. In my profession, touchy-feely can land you in a world of hurt.

What My Avatar Says About Me: Trouble is my job. And I love my job.

--------------------------------------------------------

Come back again to meet
more staff members

Village Blend Barista: Esther Best

Village Blend Barista:Tucker Burton

Village Blend Barista: Dante Silva

More NYPD Customers: Sergeant Emmanuel Franco The Fish Squad

-----------------------------------------------------

Learn more about author Cleo Coyle
in this wonderful article from
American University Magazine.

The "Village Blend Staff" gifs on this page were created by Cleo Coyle from video footage licensed from Shutterstock.com.

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DETAILS magazine named Counter Culture Coffee as #1 (of North Carolina) among five industry "innovators creating coffees that have the complexity of fine wines."

I'm a big fan of Counter Culture and have written about them on this site and in my books. Read my Coffeehouse Mystery: French Pressed or scroll down this column to my "Coffee Pick" list.

Says Counter Culture: "We hope that such media coverage helps spread awareness that coffee can not only be an authentic, delicious food experience, but also a conduit for community, sustainable agriculture, and cultural exchange."

~ Cleo

A
#1 Bestselling
Paperback

Decaffeinated
Corpse

TO LEARN MORE or BUY

#1 Bestseller
Independent
Mystery
Booksellers
Association July 2007

BULLETS ON THE
BEACH

Murder
Most Frothy

TO LEARN
MORE or BUY

Murder Most Frothy

Cleo's 4th Coffeehouse Mystery gave her amateur sleuth, Clare Cosi, a summer job as a "coffee steward" at a posh new eatery in the Hamptons, the fabled seaside escape for New York's rich and famous.

When a co-worker is gunned down, she's on a case that leads her to strange clues on the beach, a rogue Navy SEAL, and a suspicious manager at the restaurant where she's pouring gourmet cups of joe...

NEW YORK
HAMPTON'S
COFFEE CO.

CLICK HEREto visit some real coffee peeps who work hard to give the Hamptons folks a great cuppa joe.

* * * * * *

And just for fun...

Peter Pans

"Overstaying the Hamptons Party"

New York
Times

Click below to read a past Times feature about "house shares" in the Hamptons and men who try to keep the postcollege "boys of summer" party going decades after their undergrad days. Shades of my character Matt Allegro? Hmm...

Mike Phillips, our U.S. Barista Champ, finished among the top 3 baristas in his first World competition, held in Atlanta, Georgia. The following year, in Olympia, London, he won FIRST PLACE and is now THE WORLD CHAMPION FOR 2010! Way to go, Mike!

How did he get there? "I really care about coffee and the entire chain of things, from where the coffee is grown and processed, all the way to the shop where it's prepared and the customers who enjoy it."

Mike worked at Intelligentsia Coffee & Teawhen he won the barista competitions. To virtually visit the store, click here.

"What does it take
to make a
World Champion?"
Mike replies in
an interview.
See it byclicking here.

Java Master Gives
Tips on Making
the Perfect Cup

Italian-born Gennaro Pelliccia is responsible for the taste of the 108 million cups of Costa coffee sold in Britain each year. His policy with Lloyd's of London insures his tongue for 10 million pounds!

Thanks to CM reader Linda for posting info about where to buy coffee plants and seeds. Click here to go to the coffee seed catalog page and scroll down. Look for the "coffea" plants listed in ITALIC alphabetically.

Coffea arabica
Coffea catura
Coffea kona

Linda also says: "Gurney's Plant and Seed catalog has small coffee plants for $8.95 each. Click here and look for item # 11295 for coffee plants."

WAKE UP AND SMELL...
THE CANVAS!

"I started painting with coffee because I wanted a cheaper medium that was accessible to me," says Filipino artist Sunshine Plata. A tube of oil paint costs at least 500 pesos ($11), while a jar of instant coffee is only around 150 pesos ($3). Click here to read more about Sunshine and her coffee art.

Caffeine
Myths

A New York Times story by the amazing Jane Brody examines coffee and health, click here to read more. (I learned a lot about the myths of caffeine!)

*

Click here to read about a Harvard study that shows coffee's link to preventing heart disease.

*

Click here to read how a cup of coffee a day may offset Alzheimer's disease.

In Memoriam

Sheena

2.21.2009

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony!

Yes, like the Japanese with their tea traditions, the Ethiopians have a very special way of enjoying coffee. Click here to learn more!

Coffee Health News!

Coffee May Boost Memory
in Older Women

Women older than 65 who drank more than three cups of coffee a day — or the caffeine equivalent in tea — showed better memory retention than men, a French researcher reports. To read more in a Scientific American article, click here.

With the tip of a chef's hat to the married couple who run Magnolia Grill, Cleo's coffee pick for SEPTEMBER 2007 was Magnolia Grill Blend sold by Counter Culture Coffee roasters.

OCTOBER '07
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

GOMBE RESERVE

Cleo's pick for OCTOBER 2007 was Gombe Reserve sold by Green Mountain Coffee Co. and endorsed by Dr. Jane Goodall.

NOVEMBER '07
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

MAJOR DICKASON'S BLEND

In tribute to the late, great Alfred Peet, Cleo's pick for NOVEMBER 2007 was Major Dickason's Blend sold by Peet's Coffee and Tea. To read Cleo's past featured article "Alfred Peet and the Birth of Coffeehouse Culture" as well as the article after it about the Major Dickason coffee blend itself, go to Cleo's article archives by clicking here and scrolling down.

JANUARY '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

"YIRG" - ETHIOPIAN YIRGACHEFFE

Cleo's pick for JANUARY 08 was Ethiopian Yirgacheffe sold by Counter Culture Coffee Company. This coffee was also featured in Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery: FRENCH PRESSED.

FEBRUARY '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

RWANDAN VILLAGE BLEND

Cleo's FEBRUARY '08 pick was Rwandan Village Blend sold by Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Co. To read Cleo's archived article on this coffee, click here and scroll down.

MARCH '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

KENYA

Cleo's MARCH '08 pick was Kenya, sold by Counter Culture Coffee, Co. and Peet's Coffee. This coffee was also featured in Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery: FRENCH PRESSED.

APRIL '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

PURPLE PRINCESS

Cleo's April '08 pick was the amazing "Finca El Puente" from a coffee in Honduras nicknamed "Purple Princess" by the coffee director of Counter Culture Coffee of Durham, NC. This coffee was also featured in Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery: FRENCH PRESSED.

MAY - JUNE '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Cleo's June '08 pick was the "Jamaica Blue Mountain" of the South Pacific. An award-winning coffee grown on the exotic island of Papua New Guinea (north of Australia).

JULY - AUGUST '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

SOLAR ROAST COFFEE

Cleo's July - August '08 pick was Solar Roast Coffee of Pueblo, Colorado, the only company in the world that roasts its coffee using solar energy! Meet Dave and Mike, the two brothers who invented this one-of-a-kind solar roaster, and learn how you can purchase their delicious coffees for yourself by clicking here or typing SolarRoast.com into your browser.

SEPT. - OCTOBER '08
Cleo's Coffee Pick:

JOE'S VIENNA ROASTfrom the NYC coffeehouse:Joe, The Art of Coffee

The September-October '08 pick was Joe's Vienna Roast, sold by Joe, The Art of Coffee café in Greenwich Village, New York, recently named one of the best coffee bars in the country by Food and Wine magazine (and one of Cleo Coyle's inspirations for her fictional Village Blend!). CLICK HEREto visit Joe online. (To read Cleo's archived article about the Joe cafe, click here.)

NOV. - DECEMBER '08Cleo's Coffee Pick

BOUCHON BLEND

This smooth, delicious coffee is the House Blend served at Bouchon Bakeries, which are owned and run by award-winning chef Thomas Keller. This coffee was featured in Cleo Coyle's 7th Coffeehouse Mystery: ESPRESSO SHOT. It is blended and roasted by Equator Estate Coffee and Teas, a women-owned company based in northern California. Click here to visit the company and try their coffees for yourself.

JANUARY 2009Cleo's Coffee Pick

NOT KOPI LUWAK!

One of the rarest coffees on the planet, Kopi Luwak is also one of the most expensive. Kopi Luwak was also a featured coffee in Cleo's 7th and most recently released Coffeehouse Mystery: ESPRESSO SHOT. To read Cleo's brief archived article on Kopi Luwak and learn how it got its hilarious nickname: "cat poop coffee," click here and scroll down.

SPRING 2009Cleo's Coffee Pick

ROOSTER BROTHER'sLA MINITA ESTATE(Costa Rica)

This outstanding single-origin bean is treated with love by the coffee team at Rooster Brother, a store for cooks housed in a historic Victorian building in Ellsworth, Maine. Master Roaster Gene (pictured) does a masterful job of bringing out the very best in this smooth, bright, delightful coffee with the kind of hints of citrus and berry usually found in high-quality African beans. Click here to visit George and Pamela Elias's Rooster Brother store online and order some of this superb coffee for yourself! (Thanks to Coffeehouse Mystery reader Bud Knickerbocker of Bangor, Maine, for suggesting it!)

MAY - JUNE '09Cleo's Coffee Pick

BISHOPS BLEND

Creating blends is a culinary art, and I'm happy to report that the roasters for Bishops Blend have done a masterful job at creating theirs. The beans are roasted medium dark and the package came to me (via UPS) freshly roasted, beautifully oily, and smelling of chocolate. The coffee is perfectly balanced; and as it cools, the notes include a slight vanilla flavor and a touch of cinnamon. Even better, when you purchase a bag, a percentage of the money goes toward ERD, a charity that provides disaster relief around the world as well as enabling people in the poorest communities on our planet to climb out of poverty.

SUMMER 2009Cleo's Coffee Pick

DALLMAYR PRODOMOImported from Munich, Germany

To learn about this beloved German coffee brand, including tips on where to purchase it in America, read Cleo's feature article by clicking here. This is an archived article and make take a minute to load.

FALL 2009Cleo's Coffee Pick

AMARO GAYO(Ethiopia)

roasted by
Gimme! Coffee

An exotic Ethiopian coffee sold by the outstanding roaster Gimme! Coffee, which takes pride in getting it to you expertly and freshly roasted. Visit the roaster by clicking here.

This high-quality blend includes Rwandan Beans, among my favorite on planet earth, as well as beans from Papua New Guinea and Guatemala. It's smooth, rich, and absolutely delicious! Boneyard Coffee is a fantastic find!

Actor Hugh Jackman co-founded the Laughing Man Coffee Company to support developing world coffee farmers. The freshly roasted coffee from Laughing Man is absolutely delicious, and their Manhattan store front in TriBeCa isn’t very far from the fictional Village Blend of my Coffeehouse Mystery series.

CLICK HERE to view a short video where Hugh stands in for Matteo Allegro and takes you to an African coffee farm. You'll also see links to learn more or purchase this delicious coffee.

Cleo's 2014 Coffee Picks...

One Good Woman
Coffee and Tea

"One Good Woman" Signature Blend

This is the fresh coffee blend that Holly O'Connor used to start her business in a coffee truck. She now has 18 employees in her successful and beloved Pennsylvania shop, celebrating nearly 20 years in business.

A rich, smooth, AMAZING coffee blend hand-crafted for Cleo by a Master Roaster as a tribute to the fabulous coffee created in her bestselling, star reviewed Coffeehouse Mystery BILLIONAIRE BLEND.

CLICK HERE to learn more or buy this excellent coffee, created as a tribute to Cleo's book.

WIN COFFEE

Sign up for Cleo's Free Coffeehouse Mystery Newsletter for bonus recipes, plus news, fun info, and drawings for signed books, premium coffee, and more. To subscribe, click here or fill in the form below...

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For the Love

of Our Vets

HONOR FLIGHT was created by a VA doctor when he discovered that his elderly patients (veterans of WW II) could not afford to make the trip to Wash. D.C. to see the WWII war memorial that is dedicated to them. Now a national organization, Honor Flight raises money to help WWII vets make the trip to visit the memorial that would not exist without their bravery and sacrifice. Cleo has proudly donated. To learn more about Honor Flight, click here.

COFFEEHOUSE
BOOKS IN
ORDER

FREE TITLE CHECKLIST OF COFFEEHOUSE
BOOKS IN ORDER:

For a free checklist of Coffeehouse Mystery Books in Order click here or on the image below (to download the free PDF document).